Started my career in the Royal Netherlands Airforce in 1977 as crewchief on the NF-5. First 2 years at 313 sq then as full pro from 1980 at 315 LION squadron at Twenthe Airbase.
In 1986 315 squadron changed to the F-16. I was one of the last crewchiefs who did the conversion to the Fighting Falcon. My first own Falcon was the J-359. My assistent crewchief at that time was Maurice "MOUSE" van Doorn. We called the J-359 the "Cloudbuster" as in the song "Cloudbusting"of Kate Bush.
My next F-16 was the J-054, the second F-16 delivered with the F-100-PW-220 engine. Unfortunatly that one crashed in Hengelo Hasseler Es in 1992. But lucky, there were no casualties.
Then I became the proud crewchief of the last F-16 delivered to the RNLAF the J-021. Of course I named it "Black Jack"
After my crewchief carreer I got promoted to Sergeantmajor and became flightchief still at 315 sq. Later I started working as 1st line maintenance coordinator, and kept on doing that till the closed down the one and only and best "Jachtvliegsquadron" there has been in the history of the RNLAF.
Three, One, Five, keeps you alive.
After closing down 315 sq I got transferred to Leeuwarden airbase. I am a dockchief in H-15 where we perform phased maintenance on the F-16.
Since June 22 2009 found a new job at the F-16 Technical Support Office at Leeuwarden airbase.
Current or Favourite assignment
We, 315 squadron, wrote history in the books of the RNLAF in the post 2nd world war period.
Warrant-officer Nico "Cockie" de Haan
RNLAF 323 sqn